GIA graduate and Las Vegas Chapter GIA Alumni Association President Jeff Mason is the in-house gemologist at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawnshop, the shop made famous by the hit reality show Pawn Stars.
When we asked Jeff about his experience filming the show, Jeff answered, “I was terrified at first. You never knew when the cameras would be rolling. I remember I was once flirting with this breathtaking woman, and was caught on camera. I felt like I was a kid who got caught with my hand in the cookie jar.”
Jeff’s lifelong love of gems didn’t start at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawnshop, however. During his childhood he would load turquoise onto Tonka trucks, and he spent his teenage years hunting for agate and jasper in the mountains of Nevada.
After studying geology in college, Jeff set out for Carlsbad, California to study at GIA’s main campus in what he describes as “the best time in my life.” When asked about his experience at GIA, he replied, “It was amazing. I got an education and met the most incredible people. The instructors were great – they were so passionate about gemstones. So were my fellow students. We’d go to lunch, open our text books, and talk about gemstones.”
Like fellow gemologist Vincent Pardieu, Jeff graduated with the gem and jewelry industry’s most prestigious credential—the graduate gemologist diploma.
After graduation, Rick Harrison, the owner of the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawnshop, hired Jeff based on a recommendation from GIA Career Services.
Jeff feels his job is to “share happiness with others,” and he is excited by his work on a daily basis. When asked about why he loves gemology so much he offered this inspiration: “Think about it. The diamond took millions of years to form. A volcano had to spit it out of the earth. Someone had to find it. That’s incredible!”
As Jeff says, “If you’re passionate about gems and jewelry, it’s a wonderful industry to be in.” Be sure to check out our Graduate Gemologist Program to learn more about how this credential can facilitate your career in the jewelry industry.
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